COUGHING

Hi Everyone

I'm almost 3 weeks since my ICD implant; my question is about coughing. I coughed a lot before the surgery, after surgery no coughing, but yesterday I started coughing again. I'm disappointed that I'm coughing again. Also, my energy level seems to be slowly coming back. How long does it take to get back to feeling reasonably normal. I'm only 53, active and healthy. So what gives!

Thanks for your input,
Linda

7 Comments

Welcome to the pacer world!

by Swedeheart - 2008-06-04 07:06:15

Hello Linda,

I have a PM, and today marks day 101 since implant. I am a bit older than you (60) but it took me a good 2 1/2 to 3 months to start to feel better. I am still not back to reasonably normal, but I can generally do most things and take care of chores if I don't push it too hard. A lot of it will depend on how well you were feeling before your ICD. I felt poorly for several months until they figured out what was wrong with me. I still have PVC's and they make me pretty tired part of the time, the PM doesn't do anything for them...the doctors don't "worry" about those to much so I guess I have to learn to live with it.

I believe the doctors generally paint a pretty rosey picture, that once you have your ICD or PM life will just be fine.... well we all have some sort of heart trouble and our devices don't "fix" the problem, just help manage it. You will feel better, it comes a tiny bit each day providing you don't have any setbacks. You will need to be patient... for some of us it is very patient! Some folks are up and ready to go in a couple of weeks, others it may take up to a year. Lots of variables.

Lots of good info on this site, the search function will lead you to many discussions on particular topics you may have questions about. The best thing you can do now is to take it easy, be sure and don't lift your arm above your shoulder and don't lift anything very heavy with your left arm (if that is the side of your implant) for another 3 weeks. Give your leads time to really set in and your "pocket" time to heal. Once that happens things will improve faster more than likely.

I would suggest if you feel up to it, try to walk a bit each day, it will help you recover ~ but don't do more than your doctor will allow! You have had a lot of "inches" of surgery and it does take a while for all of that to heal. We only "see" the couple of inches where the implant went in... the rest is hidden from view!

Welcome, and ask any questions. The folks on this site are awesome!

Swedeheart

medication induced?

by winesap - 2008-06-04 08:06:37

Some medication side affects include inducing a cough - eg. ACE Inhibitor.

Full recovery does seem to take months for most of us. Recovery is often complicated from adjustment to different medication. I generally felt OK after a month but it is only in the last couple of months that I feel close to normal. I'm 58.

coughing

by joy1 - 2008-06-05 01:06:00

Do you have a dry cough? Often ace inhibitors of the 'pril family have a dry cough as a side effect. That would be the first thing I would check out is the side effects list of the drugs your taking

As for your ICD and feeling better. The above advice is good. Take it easy and ease back into your activities. Stay in touch with your EP. KNOW what your high and low settings are and if the high setting doesn't go high enough. get it changed. Using an over the counter heart rate monitor will help you gauge what your doing. Another thing. Alot of the drugs we take prevent the heart from responding normally ie. they don't go up with exercise but then suddenly go up and over the top. Getting zapped is no fun so take your time.

Joy

Coughing

by peter - 2008-06-05 03:06:46

One cause of coughing is the build up of fluid in the lungs due to poor heart function. Before my pacemaker implant I had coughing which was described as a form of asthma but they chest doctor would not commit himself to really calling it asthma. I remember being given a bematanide (cant remember the spelling) inhaler which contained a powder which helped. Normal inhalers did nothing. After pacemaker I got no further problems. It could be that your heart function has still not picked up after implantation. Cheers Peter

getting back to work.

by HOG Rider - 2009-06-18 09:06:28

If I have a pacemaker put in and have the AV node burned so the pacemaker does all the work. Even though in and out of hospital in a day, does anyone know how long it will take me to get back to work.

A.V. node ablation and Defib install

by HOG Rider - 2009-08-11 04:08:22

I am about to receive my defibrillator and have A.V. node ablation same day, on Sept. 3rd will let everyone know how it works when I get back. I hear doc is keeping me an extra day or so depending on blood work as I have had a couple strokes now.

all of the above

by Gracie - 2011-03-03 09:03:12

I have sick sinus syndrome and had it for years. the ep i saw for 7 years did not bother to diagnose it although I had every single symptom. I have had asthma symptoms, including a dry cough for years. I have had my pacemaker for 14 months and still do not feel I am any where back to normal. It can be frustrating!

I had a sinus node modification at the cleveland clinic in 2002, which led to the cardiac arrest I had in december 2009, my second one. I still have pvc's, v-tach, pac's, and sinus tach.

It does get better, albeit slowly. The good news is that my kidneys are functioning nearly normal again, my blood pressures are back to normal and my risk of stroke from afib is reduced.

So hang in there and we will all support you. This group has been a wonderful place for me with great advice and every ready support.

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